Game report: No. 12 Florida 21, Missouri 3

First quarter

Key play: Missouri freshman defensive end Nate Howard committed a late-hit personal foul on Florida’s first touchdown drive and freshman defensive tackle threw in a facemask personal foul on the next TD drive.

Key stat: Florida scored a touchdown on its opening drive, one of two 1-yard touchdown runs by Kelvin Taylor in the quarter. It was the Gators’ first opening-drive touchdown since a loss to South Carolina in November 2013, a span of 19 games.

Second quarter

Key play: Florida junior safety Marcus Maye made a diving grab along Missouri’s sideline for Drew Lock’s second interception of the season, but the Gators didn’t make it hurt when Jorge Powell missed a 36-yard field goal.

Key stat: Florida, which went four of eight on third down, had possession for 19:31 of the first half, while Missouri, which failed on all five third downs, only had possession for 10:29.

Third quarter

Key play: Quarterback Drew Lock stared down tight end Jason Reese on an out route, which Jalen Tabor jumped and returned 40 yards for a touchdown.

Key stat: Missouri ran 20 plays, picking up 22 yards and one first down in the quarter.

Fourth quarter

Key play: On fourth-and-6 early in the quarter, Lock was drilled by Jon Bullard as he tried to deliver a ball downfield and Missouri turned the ball over on downs.

Key stat: Missouri finished one of 14 on third down.

Offense

F

Drew Lock took a beating, Missouri managed only 257 yards and the first third-down conversion came with 36 seconds left.

Defense

B-

Missouri settled down after the first quarter and limited Florida to 337 yards, including 201 during the last three periods.

Special teams

C+

Punter Corey Fatony, who averaged 47.8 yards, was a bright spot for Missouri.

Coaching

D

Missouri’s lacked balance and often seemed flustered and confused on offense, but the defense played well after a poor start.

Player of the game: Senior linebacker Kentrell Brothers continued his all-conference season with 15 tackles, including a sack.

Reason to hope: Missouri doesn’t play Florida again this season.

Reason to mope: The loss was MU’s second in three SEC games.

Looking ahead: Missouri hits the road for two straight conference games, including a tussle between the hedges next Saturday at Georgia against a Bulldogs team that will be without stud tailback Nick Chubb.

This story was originally published October 11, 2015 at 12:19 AM with the headline "Game report: No. 12 Florida 21, Missouri 3."